Subgrade machine



Ap 1929- I E. L. EDWARDS 1,706,264

SUBGRADE MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet April 9, 1929. E. L. EDWARDS SUBGRADE MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet N Till/u a L l v 4 v Rmo A abbozmq A ril 9, 1929.' E. 1.. EDWARDS SUBGRADE MACHINE Fiied Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet SUBGRADE MACHINE Filed Sept. 25, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 gwuentoz Elvin L.Elwarl6 I I a attozueq 1,708,264 PATENT OFFICE."

ELVIN L. EDWARDS, OF MONROE, WISCONSIN.

SUBGBADE MACHINE.

Application filed September 25, 1925. Serial No. 58,577.

This invention relates to a subgrade machine for use in road building, one of the objects of the invention being to provide a machine which can bedriven or propelled along a road so as to produce the proper subgrade between the center of the road and one side thereof after which, by returning along the road at the other side the grading of the road can be completed.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character'having an indicator thereon whereby the operator travelling with the machine can maintain the mechanism at all times ,in the proper position to properly crown the road.

A further object is to provide a machine of this character utilizing a guide whereby the proper grade can be maintained during the construction of the road.

A still further object is to utilize an anger for conveying dirt transversely'of the road and at the same time producing the proper crown, means being employed for picking up dirt delivered from the auger and conveying it to desired points.

A still further object is to provide a machine having a profile-blade adjustable to produce a surface of the desiredcrown or pitch, this bladeconstitutin a means for scraping and finishing the surface and directing surplus soil into the path of the conveying and cutting auger.

- With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes 'in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made-within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawings, I

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine.

-- Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation.

4 Figure 4 is a perspective view showing portions of the main and floating frames.

Figure 5 is an elevation of the profile blade. Figure 6 is an elevation in diagram showing different positions to which the machine can be tilted for the purpose of changingthc crown or pitch'of the road surface.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing in plan and axles being provided at their ends with supin-nd view the relative positions ofthe lever ndicator and adjacent parts during the shifting of the floating frame to either of two posltlons.

Figure 8 is a detail view of an anger blade.

Figure 9 is an enlarged section through the profile blade and its connections.

Referring to the figur es by characters of reference 1 designates the rear axle of the machine and 2 designates the front axle, these porting wheels 3 in the form of large sproc ets which engage endless belt treads 4. These axles support the main frame 5. A platform 6 is supported by the main frame and carries a suitable motor 7 designed to propel the machine forwardlyand backwardly and also to operate the various mechanisms carried by the machine.

Arms 8 are pivotally mounted'on the end portions of the axle 2 and are extended upwardly from the main frame 5, these arms bemg fixedly connected at their u per ends b a transverse beam 9 which exten s laterally yond the main frame 5. A counter shaft 10 is journaled on the arms 8 and is adapted to receive motion through a belt 11 or the like from the engine 7, this belt bein mounted on a pulley 12 secured to the sha t 10. The specific means employed for driving the wheels 3 and the tread belts 4 has not been described because any suitable mechanism for this purpose can be utilized for transmitting motion from the engine.

Another shaft 13 is journaled on the arms 8 and has a sprocket 14 thereon for receiving motion through a chain :15 from a sprocket 16 secured to the shaft 10. An upwardly and "rearwardly inclined frame 17 is secured to one of the arms 8 and is supported laterally beyond the main frame 5, the upper or rear end ,of this frame being supported beyond the rear end of the mam frame 5. This frame 17 can be reinforced by braces 18 connected to I the beam 9 and journaled within the respective end portions of the frame 17 are shafts 19 and 20. Rolls 21 are carried by these shafts and support an endless belt 22 extending longitudinally within the frame 17 and adapted to convey material upwardly and rearwardly. A sprocket 23 is secured to the shaft 19 and is adapted to be driven by a chain 24 which receives motion from as rocket 25 secured to the shaft 13. To this mam shaft are secured additional sprockets 26 for the purpose hereinafter explained. Mounted frame 5. This frame 27 has shafts 28 journaled in the end portions thereof and carrying rolls 29. These rolls support an endless conveyor belt 30. A gear 31 is secured to the upper shaft 28 and meshes with a gear 32 secured to a transverse shaft 33 These gears are preferably mounted in a housing 34 carried by the frame 27. Sprocket 35 is secured to the shaft 33 and is adapted to receive motion through a chain 36 from a sprocket 37 secured to the shaft 13. A hopper 38 is carried by the lower end portion of the frame 27 so as to direct material onto. the conveyor belt 30. A'box 39 is connected to the upper end portion of the frame 17 and is adapted 4 to receive material delivered from the upper portion of the conveyor belt 22. This box has a hopper 40 connected to the bottom-thereof and adapted to swing horizontally relative to the box. To this hopper is ivotally connected a spout 41 which can e brought to position either to deliver material laterally into a wagon or the like located at one side of the machine or can be brought to position to deliver material into the hopper 38 so that this material will be conveyed to and delivered from the other side of the machine. The are of movement ofthe spout 41 has been indicated b a broken line in Figure 1.

Pivota ly mounted on the rear axle 1 are the side beams 42 of the floating frame These side beams can be suitably connected by cross beams 43 and 44. The floating frame is extended forwardly beyond the front end of the main frame 5 and has arms 45 pivotally connected to the forward ends of the beams -42 and extending upwardly and pivotally connected to the end portions of the beam 9.

A transverse shaft 46 is journaled upon the forward end portions of the beams 42 and secured to one end portion of this shaft are sprockets 47. These sprockets, as well as the sprockets 26 heretofore referred to are engaged by an endless bucket conveyor 48 which serves not only to elevate material to the conveyor 22 but also acts to transmit motion from the shaft 13 to the shaft 46 Secured to or formed on the shaft 46 is a double fli ht, auger 49. Each flight of this auger can e provided with a cutting edge of any preferred contour. In practice it is preferred to use segmental blades 50 the cutting edges of which can be shaped as desired,.these blades being bolted or otherwise detachably secured to the flights of the auger. By using blades of different sizes and shapes the augur can be caused to cut in any manner desired and can be varied in diameter so as to produce any kind of a crown specified.

The anger is so pitched that when the matherefrom. Another bucket is brought to position midway between the delivery of material from the end of the two flights while a third bucket comes' to position immediately prior to delivery of material from the second flight so as to receive said material. All of the buckets operate to dig forwardly in the 'soil and also to receive and elevate the material delivered from the flights of the auger. Thus a continuous conveying operation can be set up and. there is no danger of the mechanism becoming choked by the material being moved.

Depending from the cross beams 44 of the floating frame is a beam 51 provided with slots 52. To this beam are adjustably connected the sections 53 of the profile blade illustrated in detail in Figure 5. The different sections of this blade can be of different shapes and each of the sections has slots 54 for the reception of clamping bolts 55 entering the slots 52 in the beam 51 Obviously by adjusting the sections 53 the soil, after being acted on by the auger, will be scraped Referrin back to the profile blade it might be stated that the beam or bar 51 to which the sections 53 are connected can be adjusted bodily, upwardly and downwardly relative to the beam 44 by means of bolts 56 provided for that purpose. Some of these bolts connect the bar or beam 51 directly to the beam 44 while other bolts connect said beam 44 to brackets 57 attached to the member 53 of the blade.

It is to be.understood of course that the method of mounting the profile blade can be changed, it merely being necessary to have it ad ustable relative to the surface of the soil.

Mounted on the 'rearportion of the main frame 5 are standards 58 carrying pulleys 59. In these standards are 'ournaled the rear standards 58 so as to be free to swing therein. The forward ends of the shafts 60 are provided with hand wheels 62 which can be that when either of the shafts is rotated this cable 65 will be wound thereon or paid out therefrom thereby to shift one end portion of the beam 9 relative to the main frame 5.

One of the side beams of the floating frame is extended forwardly beyond the auger as shown at 66 and this projecting portion carries a guide 67 in which is mounted a vertically adjustable yoke 68. This yoke carries a roller 69 at its lower-end and the yoke is adapted to be adjusted vertically relative to the guide 67 by any suitable means such as a threaded stem 7 0 extending from the projecting portion 66 and engaged by an adjusting nut 71 or the like. Roller 69 is adapted to bear upon a guide 72 arranged along one side of the road at the proposed grade, it being understood that this guide can be laid for a number of feet in advance of the machine so that as the machine moves forwardly the roller 69 will remain in contact with the guide and thus cause the near end portion of the auger to cut to the desired depth.

In using this machine the guide rail 72 is placed in position for a considerable length at one side of the road to give the required grade at that point. The n achine'is then placed in position with roller 69 mounted on the guide so thatthe machine will extend half-way across the road being constructed.

The auger flights are provided with cutting blades 50 so shaped and proportioned so as to produce a crown of the desired configuration. By using blades of different shapes and widths it is possible to produce any crown that might be required by different specifications. A

After the parts have been properly adjusted to produce the desired crown the machine is-moved forwardly at any speed desired and during this movement the occupant of the seat 63, by observing the level indicator 64 can quickly determine whether or not it is necessary to raise orlower one side or the othenof the machine for the purpose of maintaining the proper crown or configuration. This lateral twisting of the machine is effected by rotating one or the other of the shafts 60. When one shaft 60 is rotated the cable connected thereto is wound thereon and thus exerts a pull upon one end portion of the beam 9 with the result that one of the arms 8 is pulled forwardly and tends to lift one side of the floating frame. When the other shaft 60 is rotated the same operation takes place at the otherside of the machine. Thus the floating frame of the machine can be twisted from one side to the other relative to the main frame to maintain the level indicator constantly in the same or substantially the same position. p

During the forward movement of the machine the auger cuts and conveysthe material as heretofore explained and delivers it to the buckets of the elevator 48. These, in turn, conduct the material upwardly to the conveyor 22 which can deliver thematerial I to the shoot 41 and thus load wagons or the like at one side ofthe machine. This is done where it is desired to convey the material to some point or points for filling in depressions. Where it is not desired to utilize the material for this purpose the sheet 41 can be employed for directing the material from conveyor into the hopper 38 and thence along conveyor 30 to one side of the road.

After one-half of the road has been graded in the manner described for a predetermined distance, the guide 7 2 can be set up along the other side of the road, the machine turned around, and caused to travel along the unfinished side of the road. Thus the road can be completed throughout its width. At all times during the operation of the machine one-half of the road is open to travel. This is important because it permits wagons to move back and forth carrying dirt or the like to be dumped where desired.

By winding both of the cables 65 the floating frame and the parts carried thereby can be raised so that the'maohine can thus be removed from place to place without injuring the road.

In practice it is designed to provide mechanism whereby the machine can be propelled at any one of several different speeds. Mechanism for this purpose is so well known, however, that it has not been deemed necessary to show or describe the same in detail.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a rigid guide for one side of the road to be formed, a floating frame movably connected to the main frame and at one side resting on the guide and extending to the medial portion of the road, a road traction means upon which the 'inner end ofthe main frame is supported, a

grading element connected to and extending transversely of the floating frame from one side to the medial portion of the road, a level indicator carried by the floating frame, and

means for shifting said floating frame relative to the main frame to maintain the level indicator in a, predetermined position.

v 2. A machine of the class described, including a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a rigid frame and on one side resting on the guide rotatable grading element exten and extending to the medial portion of the road, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the main frame is supported, a grading element carried by and extending transverselylof thefloating frame from one side to the medial portion of the road, a level indicating element carried by the float ng frame, and means for distorting the floating frame to maintain the grading element at a predetermined angle to hold the indicator substantially'fixed. v

3. In a machine of the class described, a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the main frame is supported, a floating frame movable relative thereto and extending from the side to the medial portion of the road to be formed, a rigid guide at one side of the road, an adjustable guide engaging member carried by one side of the floating i frame, a rotatable grading element extendmg transversely ofthe floating frame from one side to the medial portion of the road, and means for shifting the floating frame relative to'the main frame to maintain the grading element at a predetermined angle.

4. In a machine of the class described, a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the main frame 1s supported, afloating frame movable relative thereto and extending from t 1e side to the medial portion of the road to be formed, a rigid guide at one side of the a road, an adjustable guide engaging member ,4

frame, a

carried byone side of the floatin 1 versely of the floating frame from one side to the medial ortion of the road, means for shifting the oating frame relative to the main frame to maintain the grading element at a redetermined angle, and an indicator on the oating frame for indicating the angle .of the grading frame.

5. In a machine of the class described, a main frame, a floating frame movably connected thereto and extending from one side to the medial portion of the road to be formed a guide at one sideof the road, an adjustable guide engaging element carried by the frame at one side thereof, a grading element extending transversely of the floating frame from one side to the medial portion of the road, combined digging and elevating means for receiving material from the grading elements, and a conveyor for receiving material from said elevating means.

6. In a machine of the class described, a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the from one side to the medial mg transfrom one side to the medial portion of the main frame is supported, a floating frame movably connected thereto and extending ortion of the road to be formed, a rigid guide at one side of. the road upon which the floating frame rests, separate winding means mounted on the main frame, flexible connections between the winding means and the respective side ortions means for distorting the floating frame re ative-to the main frame, and a transversely extending grading element carried by the floating frame and shiftable therewith one side to the medial portion of the road.

7. In a machine of the class described, the

mately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the main frame is supported,

of a floating frame movably mounted relativethereto and extending from one side to said shafts and connections constituting means for shifting the beam to raise and lowereither side portion of the floating frame relative to the main frame.

8. Ina machine of the class'described, a main frame of approximately one-half of the width of the road to be formed, a road traction means upon which the inner end of the main frame is supported, a floating frame of the floating frame, said win g' .means and connections constituting and extending from combination with a main frame of approximovably connected thereto and extending road to be formed, a rigid guide at one side of the road upon which the floating frame rests, means for raising and lowering either side of one end portion of the floating frame relative to the main frame, a guide engaging means carried b the floating frame, and a transverse grading auger carried by said frame and extending from the side to the medial portion of the road.

9. In a machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road, a rigid guide at one side of the road, a movable structure infrom one side to the medial portion of the road, and cutting blades detachably connected to the flight of the auger.

10. In a machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road, a guide at one side of the road, a movably supported frame resting on said guide, a cutting auger extending transversely thereof from one side to a medial portion of the road, means for eluding a frame resting on said guide, anauger extending transversely of the frame an anger extending transversely thereof from one side to a medial portion of the road, means for adjusting the auger angularly relative to the ground, means for indicating the extent of adjustment of the auger, and elevating buckets operating in timed relation to the auger for receiving material directly from the flight of the auger.

12. A machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably mounted frame, a guide at one side of the road upon which the frame rests, a transverse auger carried thereby and extending from one side to a medial portion of the road, guideengaging means for supporting one end of the auger for travel in a predetermined path, means for adiust-ing the auger angularly relative to the ground, and combined digging and elevating buckets for receiving material directly from the flight of the auger.

13. A machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably supported frame, a rigid guide at one side of the road upon which the frame rests, a transversely extending auger carried thereby, cutting blades detachably connected to the flight of the auger, and a profile blade for scraping, piling up and holding material in the path of the auger.

14. Aanachine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably supported frame, a rigid guide at one side of the roadupon which the frame rests, a transversely extending auger carried thereby, cutting blades'detachably connected to the flight of the auger, and a profile blade for scraping, piling up and holding material in the path of the auger, said blade comprising relatively adjustable portions.

- 15. A machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably supported frame, a guide at one side of the road upon which the frame rests, guide engaging means at one side of the frame, a cutting auger extending transversely of the frame and having oneend normally maintained along a predetermined path by the guide engaging means, means for rotating the auger to deliver material from one end thereof, said means including an endless series of digging buckets, and means for act-uating the buckets to receive material directly from the flight of the auger.

16. A machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably supported frame, a guide at one side of the road upon which the frame rests, rearwardly and laterally delivering conveyors carried by the frame, means cooperating with the rearwardly delivering conveyor for directing material onto the other conveyor or in any other desired direction, a transversely arranged grading auger movable with the frame and extending from one side to a medial portion of the road, means for actuating the auger to deliver material from one end thereof, and an endless series of digging buckets for receiving material directly from the auger and delivering it to the rearwardly delivering conveyor.

17. A machine of the class described for forming one-half of a road and including a movably' supported structure, a rigid guide at one side of the road upon which the frame rests, a transverse auger carried by the frame for cuttingand crowning one-half of a road under construction, a profile blade cooperating with the auger for scraping, piling up and holding material in the path thereof, said blade being adjustable to a predetermined crown, and means for conveying surplus material from the auger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto alfixed my signature.

ELVIN L. EDWARDS. 

